Best Yoga Pose For Better Posture

Correct bad posture now and your whole body will feel better as a result. But you'll need to tone and strengthen your entire spine and the muscles around it. "Once the spine is supple and strong, posture falls into its proper place," says Lynn Burgess, director of Yoga from the Heart in Sarasota, FL. Burgess recommends doing Cobra Pose in the morning, then before bed to counter the effects of your day. [sidebar]

Cobra Pose

1. Lie face-down with your forehead resting on the floor. 2. Place your hands on either side, at the middle of your ribcage. 3. Draw your legs together, pressing the tops of your feet into the floor. 4. Reach back through your toes, lengthening your legs. 5. Press evenly through your hands as you draw your elbows close to your ribcage. 6. Using the strength of your back (not your arms), lift your head and chest, sliding your shoulder blades down your back. Take 5 to 10 long, deep, even breaths here. 7. Then gently release to the floor, turning your head to one side.